Humpback Having Fun

Humpback Whales
(Megaptera novaeangliae)

Humpbacks are well known for "slapping" (hitting the water with their pectoral fins) as well as "breaching" (jumping out of the water). Biologists are not yet sure about the reasons for these behaviours - some reasons commonly mentioned are to remove parasites from the skin, or for communication with females, or to intimidate rivals... but it might be that they do it just for fun. In any case, it is an amazing sight... an Antarctic landscape with a whale slapping is a true vision of wilderness.

Humpback Having Fun

Humpback Whales
(Megaptera novaeangliae)

Humpbacks are well known for "slapping" (hitting the water with their pectoral fins) as well as "breaching" (jumping out of the water). Biologists are not yet sure about the reasons for these behaviours - some reasons commonly mentioned are to remove parasites from the skin, or for communication with females, or to intimidate rivals... but it might be that they do it just for fun. In any case, it is an amazing sight... an Antarctic landscape with a whale slapping is a true vision of wilderness.

Humpback Having Fun

Humpbacks are well known for "slapping" (hitting the water with their pectoral fins) as well as "breaching" (jumping out of the water). Biologists are not yet sure about the reasons for these behaviours - some reasons commonly mentioned are to remove parasites from the skin, or for communication with females, or to intimidate rivals... but it might be that they do it just for fun. In any case, it is an amazing sight... an Antarctic landscape with a whale slapping is a true vision of wilderness.